University of Nanking - Linguist Yearbook (Nanking, China)

Page 91 text:

88 THE LINGUIST 1 table on one side of which sits a Chinese teacher. And at this time he goes to his individual teacher, who receives him in that inimitable courtesy of the Chinese gentleman. Here the student has an opportunity to try out his knowledge of,Chinese. Who will record the mistakes in to11e and sound perpetrated upon our long suHering teachers? Year in and year out they listen to the gropings of babes i11 the language for utterance,-and never with the discourtesy of a smile, unless we both see the humor of the mistake. Language School Groundsg Meigs Hall to right, Language Sel1ool to the left. Then comes recess. Restless we are to get at the various sportsg the girls to volley ball, or indoor baseball and the boys to volley ball, Youngsters again. happy for the relaxation from sustained attention. These pictures give an idea of what we do at recess. Dignity isleft indoors. For Ph D.s and M,D.s and B.D.,s and all jump into the spirit of play. -A game of volleyball at recess. . At the sound of the bell all return to the class rooms and reverse the order ofthe classes preceding recess. Then for the fourth class of the morning we gather into groups of ten or twelveand under the guidance of a. Chinese teacher, again try to reply in complete Chinese sentences to his questions to us. Not a worrl of English is used.

Page 90 text:

A DAY AT LANGUAGE SCHOOL 87 A DAY AT LANGUAGE SCHOGL A typical day begins at half past eight with chapel. Sounds like college, but instead of faculty members, the students lead in turn. Or it may be that a veteran missionary speaks to us. This is a period. of particular inspiration. Then follows the study of Chinese. VVe ieel the years drop off,. for we are as children beginning with one phrase and then another and. another, progressing in as halting a manner. Without text books and with at least three of our senses functioning we go through the day. The lirst period is taken up with learning new words which are demonstrated to us or explained in the Chinese that we have formerly learned. Chia Sain Sen, our Principal, a splendid pedagogue, re- commended by the American Educator, John Dewey, with inimitable acting and humor makes us see the meaning of the new and weird sounds that he pronounces. Many are the visitors who come to watch and hear this celebrated Chinese teacher go through the performances of the new word class. For the second period the class dividesg one A half remains for review of the new words which by another teacher are linked up with the known words in simple sentences: the other half goes to private teachers. Each student is assigned a number correspondingto a smallf Entrance to the Compound

Page 92 text:

A DAY AT LANGUAGE SCHOOL S9 At the noon hour we are out and away to lunchg the girls to Meigs Hall and the married people to homes of the community where many of us are hospitably lodged for our tirst year in China. On our way from the Language school we pass through the narrow streets or along the paths and meet the Chinese children who have a cherry Kello for us. There are the coolies carrying, at the ends of a bamboo pole anything from buckets of waterto babies in a basketg or a drove of moth eaten donkeys overloaded with baskets of brick or stoneg or rickshas whizzing past bearing sleekly attired women or absent minded bespecktacled students. Or one may be accosted by professional beggars old and young, blind or lame. Another Game of volleyball at recess The afternoon session begins at two o'clock and is divided into two sessions with a recess between. One of these is devoted largely to oral review wherein we repeat phrase by phrase the increasingly complex sentences containing the words that have been demonstrated to us in the former new words classes. The other is given over to- writing the Chinese character. It is a case of where every little stroke has a meaning. Committee of VVelcome Rainy Day Promenade